NATM Blog

The Boat Trailer Manufacturers Association (BTMA) awarded EZ Loader's Gary Potter with the BTMA Lifetime Achievement Award on June 4, 2019 during a meeting at EZ Loader that introduced new programs and product.​The award recognizes the accomplishments of an individual who has great influence on the marine industry, specifically their accomplishments in the betterment of boat trailering safety and the boat trailering industry as a whole. Potter, Vice President of EZ Loader Custom Trailers in Arkansas, is set to retire later this year.

BTMA is composed of boat trailer and trailer component manufacturers that are active members of NMMA.

“Gary is extremely deserving of this recognition. As the only person to chair both the BTMA and the NATM, he brought these two organizations closer and into full cooperation on trailer certification in a manner that saved members money," said Thom Dammrich, NMMA president. "Gary has served on NMMA Boards and has been an active and enthusiastic supporter of the industry. He is one of the industry’s great advocates.”

As a trailblazer in the boating industry, Potter’s list of contributions includes:

Serving as the Chairman of the BTMA;

Serving as Chairman of the NMMA Trailer Certification Committee;

Serving on the NMMA Board of Directors and the NMMA Accessory Manufacturers Division Board of Directors;

Greatly strengthening the NMMA Certification program by spearheading initiatives from ensuring trailers are shipped into states meeting legal braking requirements to mitigating wheel separation;

Bringing NMMA and BTMA much closer to the National Association of Trailer Manufacturers, and brought us into the age of joint-inspections between the organizations;

Leading the association as BTMA made NMMA certification a requirement for all boat trailer manufacturing members;

Ensuring boat trailers contributed in a meaningful way to industry growth by bringing BTMA into Grow Boating;

Merging the NMMA Trailer Certification Committee into the BTMA Board; and

Helping to develop safety information to help create an even safer boat trailering experience

​Robert Newsome, senior vice president of strategy, engineering standards and membership for NMMA, added, “There are very few people in this world that have done so much to improve an entire industry as Gary. In the past 15 years that I have had the pleasure to work with him, I have experienced first-hand his leadership and vision in so many areas.”

On Feb. 27, 2014, Gary Potter of EZ Loader Custom Boat Trailers was awarded the NATM Outstanding Member Award at NATM’s 26th Annual Convention & Trade Show for his significant contribution to the trailer manufacturing industry. EZ Loader Custom Boat Trailers has been an NATM member since 1997 and is one of the companies certified by both the NMMA and NATM.

He has served as the president of BTMA and as a board member for the National Association of Marine Products & Services. It was Potter who brought NATM and NMMA together to form a coalition, initiated NATM’s participation in the annual Regulatory Roundup and advocated for the joint certification program between NATM and the NMMA’s Boat Trailer Manufacturer’s Association (BTMA).

Though integral in linking the marine and trailer industries, his involvement with NATM outside of those contributions is equally as impressive. He served as a board member from 2009 to 2013, serving as president of the Association from 2011 until 2013. Potter has also served on and chaired numerous NATM committees. During his time as president, he sat in on every single committee meeting held, his engagement unparalleled. He was also a member of the initial NATM Political Action Committee (PAC) Board, serving from 2010-2013. Gary Potter is greatly deserving of both the 2019 BTMA Lifetime Achievement Award and the 2014 NATM Outstanding Member Award.

NATM Executive Director Kendra Ansley commented, “Gary was perhaps the most engaged and passionate NATM President the Association has seen. His enthusiasm for the industry and commitment to safety was one of the things that struck me most as a new staff person. His passion bred passion in those around him. His tenure on the board left an indelible mark on me.”​To learn more about the BMTA, visit www.nmma.org/affiliates/btma. The original article can be found at https://www.nmma.org/press/article/22713.